Islanders retain first round selection in 2014 NHL Draft

The New York Islanders will retain their first round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft and transfer their first round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced Thursday.

The Islanders own the fifth pick in the 2014 draft but had until June 1 to decide whether to keep it or defer to 2015. The selection was packaged in the team's deal for Thomas Vanek on October 27, 2013.

Vanek was traded from Buffalo to Long Island on Oct. 27 for Matt Moulson, a second-round draft pick in 2015 and the conditional first rounder.